Runners brave a challenging trail
Runners and dog walkers alike enjoyed the morning out on the trails in Sabie.
Ninety runners came together to enjoy a morning of challenging climbs and spectacular views at the York Adventure Trail Run in Sabie on Saturday.
The event catered for experienced runners as well as those who simply wanted to spend the morning in the fresh pine-scented air, walking their dogs and having a great time outdoors.
The five-, 10- and 20-kilometre courses offered both runners and walkers an enjoyable combination of single-track trails and open gravel roads.
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Running at a remarkable pace, the 10-year-old Janco Oosthuizen took the title in the men’s five-kilometre race. “It was a lot of fun, I really like to run on the trails,” said the young runner.
Tackling his first trail run, Fortune Malatji from Graskop took the first place in the 10-kilometre men’s race and said he enjoyed it immensely. “It was fantastic. The hill climbs were challenging, but my background in cross-country running helped me,” said Malatji.
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“It was an awesome race. It was well organised and the trails were really well kept, making it a joy to run,” said Lisa Main, winner of the 10-kilometre women’s race.
Ronny Mabotja took the men’s title for the 20-kilometre course. “It was very enjoyable, but tough going up,” he said.
from Pretoria, who happened to hear about the event a day before while on holiday in the Sabie area, took the women’s 20-kilometre title with more than 10 minutes between herself and the second runner in the category, Madeleine Whitehair.
“It was a really beautiful run and I had a blast on the trails,'” said Botes.
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Top-three results:
Women’s 20 kilometres
• Marianne Botes: 01:59:30
• Madeleine Whitehair: 02:10:20
• Chantel van Niekerk: 02:15:19
Men’s 20 kilometres
• Ronnny Mabotja: 01:40:02
• Christopher Jennings: 01:43:23
• Johan Oosthuizen: 01:49:48
Women’s 10 kilometres
• Lisa Main: 00:54:28
• Chantel Gomes: 00:56:49
• Alexis Badenhorst: 01:00:12
Men’s 10 kilometres
• Fortune Malatji: 00:46:28
• Sbusiso Mashego: 00:48:28
• Grant Bosman: 00:50:27
Women’s five kilometres
• Stephanie Reinecke: 00:32:21
• Neline Hoffman Kellerman: 00:35:18
• Lehandrie Freeman: 00:36:07
Men’s five kilometres
• Janco Oosthuizen: 00:24:18
• Brendan Pieterson 00:25:47
• Dan van Eijk 00:25:51.
